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UPSC Prelims 2026 GS Paper 1, question 35

Topic: Economy

Q35

Consider the following statements with reference to the Sagarmala Programme of the Government of India :

I. The Sagarmala Programme seeks to achieve port-led economic growth through cost-effective and sustainable coastal infrastructure.

II. The success of the Sagarmala Programme is reflected in significant growth in coastal and inland waterway shipping, along with improved global port rankings.

III. Sagarmala 2.0 aims to position India as a global maritime innovation hub aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047 visions.

Which of the following relationships among the above statements is/are correct ?

  1. Statement II validates the effectiveness of the strategies envisioned in statement I.

  2. Statement III extends the objectives of statement I by embedding them into a future-oriented innovation framework.

  3. Statement I contradicts statement III by focusing only on traditional infrastructure instead of modern innovation.

Select the answer using the code given below :

  1. (a) 1 only
  2. (b) 1 and 2Correct answer
  3. (c) 2 and 3
  4. (d) 3 only

Solution.

Answer: (b) 1 and 2

  1. Statement 1 is correct: Statement II's record of rising coastal and inland waterway cargo and improved port turnaround/rankings directly validates the port-led development strategy stated in Statement I.
  2. Statement 2 is correct: Statement III extends Statement I's port-led infrastructure mission into Sagarmala 2.0's focus on shipbuilding, green maritime innovation, and Viksit Bharat 2047.
  3. Statement 3 is incorrect: Statement I and Statement III are complementary phases of the same maritime policy, not contradictory.